EU parliament demands action against 'gold visas'

strasbourg - Measures must be taken against so-called 'gold visas' in the EU. The European Parliament wants rules to be put in place for the 'sale' of residence permits, visas and passports in a large number of Member States to wealthy foreigners who, in return, pay tons and sometimes millions.

The parliament is particularly concerned about the lack of transparency about the origin of those sums of money that may be laundered in this way. Moreover, people with a right of residence can travel freely through the EU. Some Member States, including Malta, Cyprus and Portugal, are targeting outside the EU, which generates millions of euros.

'We are laying out the red carpet for, for example, rich Russian or Chinese oligarchs trying to park their money somewhere', argued Sophie in 't Veld (D66), who is the rapporteur on the file, during a debate in Strasbourg. She wants to put an end to 'corruption and money laundering made possible by the states'.

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